Sunday, January 3, 2010

Fictional Story: Mormon 9:15-16

Bonnie held her breath as she lowered her sleeping baby girl into the crib, praying that she wouldn't wake up the second she touched the mattress. She pulled her hands from under the sleeping form slowly, but the child still squirmed for a few seconds before settling down with a sigh. Relieved, Bonnie glanced heavenward. Thank you, Father.

The letter rested on top of the pile of bills on the counter; it rustled as she walked by, as if to remind her of its existence. Bonnie didn't have to read it; the threat pounded against her mind, worrying her every second since its arrival--take care of the weeds in the yard by the end of the month or face eviction. She had been working hard on the weeds all month, pulling each one by hand every day, when she could get her daughter to nap. The southern Arizona heat was too much even for Bonnie; she didn't dare take her baby out into it.

Now the last day of the month had arrived. Even though it was barely 11 am, the temperature had already climbed to 108 degrees. The last of the weeds waited for Bonnie on the south side of the house, where the sun shone in full force. The house couldn't shield her today.

Bonnie grabbed her thin cloth garden gloves and a plastic shopping bag then opened the door just wide enough to slip out. The heat slammed against her, weighing her down. But she smiled when she saw the thin line of shade cast by the neighbor's palm tree. It's better than nothing! I'll start there. She knelt in the shade and began pulling the weeds, shoving them into the bag. Occasionally, she had to coax loose strands of hair back behind her ears, and sweat trickled down her nose and dripped onto the ground. She finished the first area and moved a short distance to the west.

She was half-way done when she realized that the shade was following her. Bonnie was filled with gratitude as she gazed at the palm tree. The Lord put that palm tree there, knowing that on this scorching day, it would protect me from the sun and allow me to finish my work. She felt a warm feeling of love embrace her. Thank you, Father.